Loading machine



F. CARTLIDGE LOADING MACHIE March 8, 193%.

Filed Aug.` 17, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l March 8, 1938. F1 CARTUDGE 2,110,568

LOADING MACHINE Filed Aug. 17, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 V Matchs, 1938. l f F, CARTLlDGE 2,110,568

LOADING MACHINE Filed Aug. 17, 19:56 s sheets-sheet s Patented Mar. s, 193s y 2,110,563

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFCE LOADING MACHINE Frank Cartlidge, Chicago, Ill., assigner to: Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, lill., a

corporation of Illinois Application August 17, 1936, Serial No. 96,373

13 Claims. (Cl. ISS-8) This invention relates to improvements in loadas usual is carried at the forward end of a moing machines of the type adapted' to gather and bile truck having suitable power operating and load loose material such as coal from the ground controlling devices, which need not be shown or and more particularly to gathering heads includdescribed in detail herein as the present invening gathering chains having flights extending tion is directed particularly to the construction 5 therefrom for initially picking up the loose maof the gathering and loading element. terial and loading it onto a flight conveyer for The elevating conveyer I0 includes a troughdischarge into a mine car or the like. like conveyer frame section II and a forward The principal object of my invention is to prou gathering section I2 connected thereto in a suitvide a simple and efficient construction of a loadable manner, which gathering section has an 10 ing head especially arranged to gather material apron I4 extending laterally along opposite sides and assist in clearing the gathering flights from of the conveyer and forwardly across the formaterial on the elevating conveyer after the latward end thereof to the ground so that the forter has been deposited thereon. ward end of said apron may engage the ground.

Other objects of my invention will appear from The conveyer section Il includes a plate l5 15 time to time as the accompanying specification extending therealong which forms ,a surface along proceeds. which material may be moved by transversely My invention may be more clearly understood extending flights I6, I6 carried between suitable with reference to'the accompanying drawings parallel-spaced endless chains I l, I'I at intervals 2'() wherein: therealong. 20

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the front por- The conveyer section Ii also has a pair of tion of a loa-ding machine, illustrating one form upright side plates, I8, I8 which define the main in which my invention may be embodied; body of the conveyer trough and extend downn Figure 2 is an enlarged detail plan View of the Wardly beneath the bottom plate I5 to provide a front portion of the loading machin-e shown in support means for the moving parts of the con- 25 Figure l with certain parts brok-en away in order Veyel- Said Side platesy are 3150 aled OUJHMMCUY to more clearly illustrate certain details of the at Opposite Sides 0f Sad COnVeyeI' SGCOH t0 form gathering' head; a trough-like frame along which material may Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the be moved, aS indicated in Figures 1 and 2.

gathering head with certain parts broken away The endless chains ll, I1 are trained around 30 and shown in longitudinal section; suitable sprockets (not shown) on a transverse Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken shaft 20 disposed at the rear end of the conveyer substantially along lines 4-4 of Figure 2; section II and forming a drive member for said Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional endless chains (see Figure 1). From said shaft view taken substantially along lines 5 5 of Figsaid endless chains extend downwardly along the 35 ure 2; conveyer frame Il beneath the plate I5 over Figure 6 is an enlarged detail side view of one and under suitable idler and tightening' rollers of the gathering chains with certain parts'broken generally indicated by reference character 2 I, away and shown in section; and around sprockets 23, 23 on a transversely 40 Figure 7 is an enlarged plan view of the chain extending shaft 24 disposed adjacent the forward 4o shown in Figure 6; end of the conveyer frame. From thence, said Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken endless chains extend upwardly along the upper substantially along lines 8--8 of Figure 2; and surface of the plate I5.

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail top plan view An inclined bottom plate 28 extends upwardly of one of the drive sprockets for the gathering from the forward end of the apron i4 beneath 45 chains. the endless chains Il, I1, and terminates at a In the drawings my invention is shown as bepoint disposed beneath the shaft 24 at a plate ing embodied in a loading machine of the track 29 which forms la bottom for the gathering secmounted type, the main elements of which may tion I2. Said first mentioned plate together with be essentially the same as shown in a prior apthe forward end of said apron serves as a shoe 50 plication, Serial No. 682,248, filed by Frank Carton which the forward end of the gathering and lidge, July 26, 1933, which issued as Patent No. loading element may rest.

2,066,137 on December 29, 1936. The gathering Referring now in particular to the construcand loading element is mounted at the forward tion and arrangement of the gathering elements Jend of an inclined elevating conveyer I0, which which forms the principal features and novelty 55 of the present invention, said gathering elements consist in general of a pair of endless chains 35, 30 having gathering arms or nights 33, 33 extending laterally therefrom at spaced intervals. Provision is made for twisting each chain and its gathering arms as it moves upwardly along the conveyer so that said gathering arms will be inclined upwardly with respect to the normal path of orbital movement of the chains as they approach the upper end of their path of travel and turn away from the elevating conveyer.

In the form shown herein, the chains 30, 30 are guided about chain guides generally indicated at 3l, 3i which are of an elongated form and are adjustable in a usual manner for taking up slack in their respective chains. Said chain guides are mounted on the upper surface of the apron i4 and extend along opposite sides of the elevating conveyer from a point disposed forwardly of the front end thereof and in rearwardly diverging paths. The arrangement is such that the gathering arms 33, 33 swing in paths extending beyond the front end of the apron at their lower turning point and move laterally away from the conveyer as they move upwardly and rearwardly therealong.

The twisting action of the chain is produced by the construction of the chain guides 3|, each of which is provided with a channelled guide extending around its outer periphery with upper and lower parallel spaced inner sides 34 and 34a which engage the respective upper and lower sides of the chain 35. The front and lower ends or portions of the sides 34 and 34a are arranged in the plane of the normal orbit of the respective chain, but said sides are gradually inclined upwardly in planes disposed transversely of the conveyer toward the rear end of each chain guide 3i so that in effect the entire guide channel istwisted upwardly toward the rear of the chain guide as it extends therealong, as is clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3. The maximum inclination of the chain guides is reached adjacent the point where the gathering arms turn away from the conveyer. Said guide, as herein shown, continues at such an inclination around the rearward turning point of the gathering arms and is then gradually inclined downwardly to a plane parallel with the plane of the apron for permitting said gathering arms to rest thereon.

A supporting plate 35 of a semi-frusto-conical formation extends around the upper turning point of said gathering arms. Said plate, as herein shown, is parallel to the sides 34 and 34a and the entering edge of said plate is arranged to deflect material onto the conveyer as it is approached by the gathering arms and forms a support for said gathering arms. The outer side of said plate is gradually inclined downwardly to a plane conforming to the plane of inclination of the sides 34 and 34a at the outer side of the chain guide 3i to permit the arms to rest on the apron i4 at the forward end thereof (see Figures l and 2).

Thus, said guides tend to gradually twist the respective chains and gathering arms upwardly away from the conveyer as they move rearwardly therealong and gradually twist the chains downwardly and return them to their normal orbital path as they move forwardly and downwardly along the outer side of their respective chain guides.

In order to permit the chains 30, 35 to twist freely within the required limits, I provide an improved form of chain having limited universal pivotal movement, and rigidly connect the gathering arms or flights 33 to the chain to move therewith. Each of said arms, as herein shown, is provided with a bifurcated inner end, the furcations of which form straps of said chain for pivotally connecting adjoining links thereof together.

Each gathering chain includes a plurality of links 36, 36 formed from abutting members secured together in a suitable manner such as rivets. Said links have semi-spherical hollow formations or sockets adjacent their ends, which are adapted to be engaged by ball shaped members 31, 31. Said ball shaped members are connected to the next adjacent links of said chain, which l'inks are herein shown as being in the form of parallel spaced straps lying along the outer sides of the links 36, 3B. Each of said ball shaped members is mounted on a rivet 39, which rivet is mounted at its ends in said chain strap. As herein shown, said chain strap includes a pair of parallel spaced -sides 40, 45 disposed on opposite sides of the balls 31, 31 and having a closure member l43 connecting said sides together. Said closure member is on the side of said chain which is its outer side when it is traveling along the guide 35 and forms a means to prevent coal or other material from getting into the chain and fouling the sprocket which drives said chain.

The inner sides of the parallel sides adjacent said balls are provided with inwardly projecting lugs 44, 44 which abut the outer sides of the balls 31, 31 to provide additional support for the rivets 33, 33. Said chain straps are also provided with suitable openings 45, 45 on the lower side thereof, to permit material which may be within said chain to be discharged therethrough.

The means for driving each endless chain 3U about its respective chain guide 3| includes a sprocket 41 disposed at the upper end of said chain guide. Said sprocket has upwardly inclined teeth 48, 48 which are inclined in a plane parallel to the plane of inclination of the sides 34 and 34a of the channelled guide for said chain. A retaining member 49 is secured to the upper side of the sprocket 41 by means of rivets 50, 50 (see Figures 3 and 8). Said retaining member is provided with an outwardly and upwardly flared engaging surface of an inverted frustoconical formation which engages the upper side of the chain when rounding the sprocket 41 and forms a means for retaining said chain on said sprocket.

The sprocket 41, as herein shown in splined on a shaft l perpendicular to the plane of the apron i4. Said shaft is journaled at its upper end in the chain guiding member 3! on a suitable ball bearing 52. A bevel gear 53 is keyed to the lower end of said shaft. Said bevel gear is journaled on its hub in a supporting frame member 54 secured to the bottom of the apron I4 by means of a suitable ball bearing 55. Said bevel gear meshes with and is driven from a bevel pinion 56 on a transversely disposed shaft 51 journaled at its ends in the supporting frame 54. Said shaft and bevel pinion are driven from the transverse shaft 24 by means of a chain and sprocket drive generally indicated by reference character 58.

It may be seen from the foregoing that a novel means has been provided for clearing maerial on the conveyer from the gathering arms which consists in raising the gathering arms above the conveyer in a simplified manner by means of gradually inclining the channelled guides of the chain guiding members upwardly in planes disposed transversely of the conveyer so that their point of maximum inclination is at the rearward turning point of the gathering arms for twisting the gathering arms and chains upwardly as they move along said guides; that the gathering chains are of a universal construction so they may follow these twisting guides; and that the gathering arms are rigidly connected to the chains so that said chains may raise said gathering arms as they twist in an upward direction.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it will be understood that the construction thereof and the arrangement of the various parts may be altered without departing from the spirit for twisting said chain and arm in an upward direction as it moves upwardly therealong.

2. In a loading apparatus, an elevating conveyer, means for gathering material and moving it onto said conveyer comprising a chain guide extending along one side of said conveyer and having an endless chain guided for movement thereabout, a plurality of spaced apart gathering arms projecting laterally from said chain, and said guide having a guide surface extending along the conveyer from a point disposed forwardly of the forward end thereof which,

is gradually inclined upwardly in planes transverse to the planes of said conveyer to a maximum adjacent the point where said gathering arm turns away from the conveyer for twisting said chain upwardly as it moves along said conveyer and raising said gathering arms above said conveyer at their outward turning point.

3. In a loading apparatus, an elevating conveyer, means for gathering material and moving it onto said conveyer comprising an orbitally guided endless chain movable along one side of said conveyer and having a gathering arm projecting laterally therefrom, and a guide member having a channelled guide formed in its periphery, along which said chain is adapted to move, and extending along the conveyer from a point disposed forwardly of the forward end thereof and being gradually inclined upwardly in planes transverse to the plane of ythe conveyer to a maximum adjacent the point where said gathering arms turn away from the conveyer, said chains being arranged for twisting movement in more than one plane to conform to the form of said guide.

4. In a loading apparatus, an elevating conveyer, gathering mechanism therefor comprising an endless chain movable along one side of the conveyer and having gathering arms projecting laterally therefrom and beyond the forward end of the conveyer, a chain guide extending along one side of the conveyer having a channelled guide formed around its periphery which forms a means for guiding said chain along said conveyer, the upper and lower sides of said guide extending along said conveyer being gradually inclined upwardly with respect thereto from the forward end of said conveyer to a maximum adjacent the point where said arms turn away from said conveyer.

5. In a loading apparatus of the class described, an elevating conveyer, means for gathering material and moving it onto said conveyer comprising an orbitally guided endless chain movable along one side of said conveyer and having spaced apa-rt gathering arms projecting laterally therefrom, and means for raising the outer ends of said gathering arms with respect to said conveyer at their upward turning point comprising a chain guiding member having a channelled guide formed therein and extending therearound and along the conveyer from a point disposed forwardly of the forward end thereof, the portion of said guide extending along the conveyer being gradually inclined upwardly in planes transverse to the planes of the conveyer to a maximum at the point where said gathering arms turn away from the conveyer, and said gathering arms being rigidly connected to said chain to move angularly upwardly upon angular upward movement of said chain caused by the twisting form of said guides.

6. In a loading apparatus, an elevating conveyer, means for gathering material and moving it onto said conveyer comprising an orbitally guided endless chain movable along one side of said conveyer and having spaced apart gathering arms projecting laterally therefrom, and means for raising the outer ends of said gathering arms with respect to said conveyer as they approach their upward turning point comprising a chain guiding member having a channelled guide extending around its periphery and along the conveyer from a point disposed forwardly of the forward end thereof, the portion of said guide which extends along the conveyer being gradually inclined upwardly in planes transverse to the plane of the conveyer to a maximum at the point where said gathering arms turn away from the conveyer, said chains being arranged for movement in more than one plane to conform to the form of said guide and twist in an upwardly inclined direction with respect to said conveyer as they move therealong, and said arms being rigidly connected to said chain to move angularly upwardly with said chain upon twisting movement of said chain as it moves along said guide.

'7. In a material gathering and loading machine. an elevating conveyer. gathering means for moving material onto said conveyer including a chain guide extending along each side thereof from a point disposed forwardly of the forward end thereof and .an endless chain having gathering arms projecting therefrom guided for movement along each of said chain guides, and means for raising said gathering arms above said conveyer at their upward turning point comprising a guide channel formed in the periphery of each of said guides and the portion of said guide channels extending along said conveyer being gradually inclined in an upward direction in planes disposed generally transversely to the plane of said conveyer to a maximum at the point where said gathering arms turn away from the conveyer.

8. In a material gathering and loading machine, an elevating conveyer, gathering means for moving material onto said conveyer including a chain guide extending along each side thereof from a point disposed forwardly of the forward end thereof and an endless chain having gathering arms projecting therefrom guided for orbital movement along each of said chain guides, and means for raising said gathering arms above said conveyer as they approach their upward turning point Comprising a guide channel formed in the periphery of each of said guides, the portion of said channels extending along said conveyer being gradually inclined in an upward direction in planes disposed generally transversely to the plane of said conveyer to a maximum at the upward turning point of said gathering arms, and said chains being of a universal construction to permit twisting movement thereof as they travel along said guides.

9. In a material gathering and loading machine, an elevating conveyer, gathering means for moving material onto said conveyer including a chain guide extending along each side thereof from a point disposed forwardly of the forward end thereof and an endless chain having gathering arms projecting therefrom guided for movement along each of said chain guides, and means for raising said gathering arms above said conveyer as they'approach their upward turning point comprising a guide channel formed in the periphery of each of said guides, the portien of said channel extending along said conveyer' being gradually inclined in an'upward direction in planes disposed generally transversely to the plane of said conveyer to a maximum at the upward turning point of said gathering arms, said chains being of a universal construction to permit twisting movement thereof as they travel along said guides, and said gathering arms being rigidly connected to'said chains to move upwardly therewith upon upward twisting moveupwardly in planes transverse to the rplane of Y said conveyer so as to twist said chain upwardly as it travels therealong, and means for driving said chain about said guide comprising a sprocket disposed adjacent the rearward end thereof having teeth inclined to conform to the plane of movement of said chain.

11. In a loading apparatus, an elevating con-- veyer, means for gathering material and moving it onto said conveyer comprising an orbitally guided endless chain movable along one side of said conveyer and having spaced apart gathering arms projecting laterally therefrom, and means for raising the outer end of said gathering arms above said conveyer as they approach their upward turning point comprising a guide for said chain including a guide channel extending along said conveyer and inclined upwardly in planes transverse to the plane of said conveyer so as to twist said chain upwardly as it travels therealong, and means for driving said chain about said guide comprising a sprocket disposed adjacent the rearward end thereof having teeth inclined to conform to the plane of movement of said chain, the base of said sprocket between said teeth being out away to permit dirt to be discharged from said sprocket.

12. In a loading apparatus, an elevating conveyer, means for gathering material and moving it onto said conveyer comprising an orbitally guided endless chain movable along one side of said conveyer and having spaced apart gathering arms projecting laterally therefrom, and means for raising the outer ends of said gathering arms with respect to said conveyer as they approach their upward turning point comprising a guide for said chain including a guide channel extending along said conveyer and inclined upwardly in planes transverse to the plane of the conveyer, and means for driving said chain about said guide comprising a sprocket disposed adjacent the rearward end thereof and having upwardly inclined teeth, the base of said sprocket between said teeth being inclined at a less angle than the angle of inclination of said chain to permit dirt to be discharged from said sprocket.

13. In a loading apparatus, an elevating conveyer, means for gathering material and moving it onto said conveyer comprising an orbitally guided endless chain movable along one side of said conveyer and having spaced apart gathering arms projecting laterally therefrom, and means for raising the outer ends of said gathering arms with respect to said conveyer as they approach their upward turning point comprising a guide for said chain including a guide channel extending along said conveyer and inclined upwardly in planes transverse to the plane of the conveyer, and means for driving said chain about said guide comprising a sprocket disposed adjacent the rearward end thereof having upwardly inclined teeth, the base of said sprocket between said teeth being cut away and inclined at a less angle than the angle of inclination of said chain to permit dirt to be discharged from said sprocket.

FRANK CARTLIDGE. 

